Process and apparatus for converting hydrocarbon oil



April 2, 1929. G. EGLOFF PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTINGHYDROCARBON "O l [L Filed June 25, 1923 Patented Apr. 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES ousrav EGLOFF, or CHICAGO, rumors,

commnv, or cnreaeo, run-101s, A conronarron or sou'rH DAKOTA.

Applicationfilcd June 25,

This invention relates to improvements in a process and apparatus forconverting hydrocarbon oil, and refers more particularly to a continuousprocess for the destructive distillation of oils to convert relativelyhigh boiling point oils to oils of a low boiling point having thecharacteristics of gasoline.

The single figure is a diagrammatic side elevational view of theapparatus with parts broken away and parts in section.

In the drawing is shown a heating coil 1' mounted in a furnace 2, anexpansion chamber 3 having an inner secondary container or receptacle 4,a dephlegmator 5, condenser 6 and a receiving tank 7. The oil to betreated is introduced fromany convenient extraneous source through theline 8 and is charged by means of the pump 9, directly to the heat ingcoils through the line 12 controlled by a valve 13, or it may bedesirable to divert part of the charging stock to the dephlegmatorthrough the line 10 regulated by the valve 11 and direct the remainingportion to the heating coil. If circulated through the dephlegat materand there utilized as a'refluxing medium, the oil and what condensate itmay collec flows down through the dephlegmator leg 14 and may be drawnoil through the line 15 controlled by a valve 16 through so which it isdirected to the expansion chamher 3 where it is brought in contact withthe v heated oil coming from the heating coil. If charged direct to theheating coil, the oil is raised to a cracking or conversion temperaasture in the heating coil 1 and passes thence through the transfer line17 into the; inner chamber 4 of the expansion chamber 3 where it isdischarged and collects in a substantial body. The oil on filling up thecontainer, to overflows into the outer expansion chamber, vaporizationtakin place substantially from the time it is disc arged in the innercontainer until the unvaporizedliquid residual products are drawn offfrom the outer chamher through the line 18 regulated by a valve 19. Thevapors evolved, rise to the top of the chamber, passing off through avapor line 20 in which is interposed a valve 21, passipg through therefluxing or fractionating co'ltO umn where they are subjected to thefractionating action 0 the tower into which may be introduced portionsof the charging stock as a cooling medium, as explained. The uncondensedvapors pass off from the top of the tower through the vapor line 22 inwhich is 1,707,349 PATENT OFFICE.

ASSIGNOR TO UNIVERSAL; OIL PRODUCTS PROCESS APPARATUS FOR CONVERTINGHYDROCARBON OIL.

1923. Serial No. 647,430.

trolling the valves 30 and 26 on the receiver,

the pressure in the system may be regulated to maintain desirableconditions for conversion. The reflux condensate scparatedout in thetower is returned and introduced to the outer shell of expansion chamber3 wherein it is mixed with the heated oil overflowing from the innercontainer 4 and simultaneously therewith is in radiating contact withthe oil contained in the inner container which serves to transmit tothisreturned product sufficient heat to promote further conversion andcracking.

The circulationof this relatively refractory condensate to the outercontainer has also the advantage of retarding the evolution of thevapors to an extent that the conversion or cracking proceeds at a slowerrate, giving time for further complete digestion of the liquid body.

The time factor is of importance as it has been found that bymaintaining the oil body; at a high temperature for a considerableperiod of time and retarding to a limited extent the too rapid evolutionof vapors, a more uniform and satisfactory distillate is obtained in thereceiver, both in so far as its boiling point range is concerned andalso with regard to other important characteristics which are factors inits marketability. At 31 is shown a drawofi' line communicating with theinner container, by means of which any residual products tending tocollect in the inner container may be withdrawn either continuously orintermittently.

This line 31 is controlled by suitable valve 32. The chamber 3 is shownmounted in a portion of the furnace, or in an insulated compartmentadjoining the furnace whereby the space around the greater part of thechamber may be heated by means of the hot flue gases. This permits themaintenance of a relatively high temperature in the conversion orexpansion chamber and revents the excessive loss of heat by radiation.When carbon accumulation has become excessive in the tively constantpressure of 125 ounds er square inch, a good quality distil ate having agravity of from 49. to 52 Baum and comprising from 40% to 60% of thecharging stock was obtained. These temperatures and pressures are merelyillustrative, and may be changed according to the type of oil used, andthe condition desired in the apparatus. It is also not the purpose ofthis illustration to limit the invention to these particular operatingconditions as pressures from 50 to 500 pounds-may be utilized, while thetemperatures may range accordingly.

I claim as'my invention:

1. In an apparatus for converting petroleum oil, the combination withmeans for heating the oil to a conversion temperature, of an expansionchamber comprising inner and outer receptacles wherein the oil ismaintained in conversion pools, means for directing the oil from theheating means to the inner receptacle to overflow into the outerreceptacle, dephlegmat-ing and condensing the expansion chamber forretreatment, and

independent means for withdrawing the unvaporized products from theseparate receptacles while maintaining a regulated pressure upon the oilundergoing treatment.

2. A process for converting hydrocarbon oil, consisting in raising theoil to a conversion temperature in a heating zone, in delivering theheated oil to 'a body of oil Within an enlarged expansion zone, inpermitting the oil to. overflow from said body into a second body of oilin said enlarged expansion zone, in taking off vapors from both of saidbodies and in sub'ecting such Vapors to reflux condensation, inreturning the reflux condensate to said second body of oil, inwithdrawing the heavy carbon-containing residue from the first mentionedbody of oil and in heating the second body of oil while in saidexpansion zone, and in maintaining a self-generated superatmosphericpressure on the oil undergoing conversion in the process.

3. An apparatus for converting petroleum oil comprising means forheating the oil to a conversion temperature, an expansion chambercomprising inner and outer receptacles wherein the oil accumulates inpools, said innor receptacle being so constructed as to permit oil tooverflow therefrom into the outer receptacle, means for directing theoil from the heating means to the inner receptacle to overflow into theouter receptacle, dephlegmating and condensing means, means fordelivering the evolved vapors from said expansion chamber to saiddephlegmating and condensing means, means for returning refluxcondensate separated from the vapors in said dephlegmating means to saidouter receptacle, and means for maintaining a regulated pressureupon-the oil undergoing treatment in the apparatus.

4. A process for converting hydrocarbon oil, consisting in raising theoil to a conversion temperature in a heating zone,'in delivering theheated oil to a body of oil within an enlarged expansion zone, inpermitting the oil to overflow from said body into a second body of oilin said enlarged expansion zone, in taking off vapors from both of saidbodies and in subjecting such vapors to reflux condensation, in returninthe reflux condensate to said second body 0? oil, in withdrawing theheavy carbon-containing residue from the first mentioned body of oil, inheating the oil and reflux condensate collecting in said second body toeffect further conversion thereof while maintained apart from the heavyoil in said first body, and maintaining a self-generatedsuperatmospheric pressure on the oil undergoing conversion in theprocess.

GUSTAV EGLOFF.

